JASON CLARK / COURIER &amp; PRESS
Tyler Rust a U.S. Postal Service employee for six years from Evansville wears a ski mask while delivering mail Monday on West Virginia Street in Evansville with wind chill values of 25 below zero or colder in the Tri-State on Monday.

2013 Jason Clark / Evansville Courier &amp; Press

JASON CLARK / COURIER &amp; PRESS
Steam swirls up from the Ohio River along Evansville’s riverfront with temperatures below freezing on Monday.

Rust, 25, said during a 10-minute break that Monday's was "definitely" the coldest weather he's worked in during his six years as a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in the city. Based out of the Wabash Avenue Post Office, Rust admitted it's better to be safe than sorry and estimated he was wearing six layers of clothing to combat Monday's near single-digit temperatures with wind chills of minus 15 or more.

"You've just got to make sure you're dressed properly," he said. "Layers on layers ... Anything that can protect your skin from this wind is always very helpful."

Rust also said it's a good idea to carry an extra change of clothes in case what you're wearing gets wet.

Except for other occasional mail delivery personnel, and one construction crew, Rust said the roads on his Westside and Reitz Hill routes were mostly deserted. On any work day, he said he usually gets on the streets around 9 a.m. and can be out between six and nine hours.

"We haven't had a snow day this year," he said. "The last big snow we had, it was tough getting around, it was very tricky, but we still got out and delivered."

Although he's taken advantage of them in the past, Rust doesn't think it's necessary to use hand or foot warmers or drink warm liquids, like coffee, to stay at a comfortable temperature. But he said it is important to remember to stay hydrated, that's why he drinks plenty of water and Gatorade.

"As long as I'm moving and keep my blood flowing, I stay pretty warm," he said. "Don't just sit still because you'll start getting real cold."

Since around midnight Saturday, Mike Singer, Vectren's Southwest division manager for field, gas and electric operations, said his crews have doubled and even tripled in some cases to accommodate the number of customer calls.

Singer, a Vectren employee for 28 years, said his division covers parts of a nine-county service area in Southwestern Indiana, also said that workers who typically go out on jobs alone are now partnered with co-workers so they can switch from one person working in the cold while the other sits in the truck to warm up.

"Oh we certainly worry about it," Singer said. "That's why we double people up, and we make sure everyone understands to take additional breaks if needed to warm up. We understand how dangerous it is for these guys to be working in this, even if they do work outside all the time, they don't work in these kinds of temperatures very often."

Singer said there are always Vectren employees on call to handle electric and gas issues such as Sunday night when, at its peak, nearly 1,200 customers were without power. He said everyone was back on between 2:30-3 a.m., and that calls "trickled in" all day Monday with a steady stream of different issues.

"We don't really (time) limit the crews, but we make sure that they understand what the symptoms of frostbite are, and if you feel those, get in your truck and warm up ... The people in the field are used to working out in the field," Singer said. "They know to cover up, no exposed skin, dress in layers and they watch for those symptoms that could get them in trouble. And they take a break to get warmed up when they need to."

When Mother Nature produces any kind of snow or ice, Don Middleton, general sales manager at D-Patrick Downtown Ford, said there isn't one person that is tasked with the job of clearing cars on the lot because everyone in the dealership gets outside to help. When winter weather is expected, Middleton said the wiper blades on all vehicles are raised to make the cleaning process the next day "much easier," and walkways and driveways are pretreated.

"We're very fortunate we didn't get the snow that everybody else got," he said.

Middleton said most service appointments were canceled Monday because people could not, or did not, want to get out. And his sales force was about 50 percent because many employees live 45 minutes or further away and some are single parents, so he advises them to stay home for safety and family. Plus, Middleton doesn't usually expect a day like Monday to be busy.

"As far as retail sales, this definitely affects the car industry," he said. "We have had a couple of customers in, but it creates a very long day. But with the public at risk, it's kind of hard when it's zero degrees to be outside demonstrating or even showing a vehicle — nobody wants to be out in the vehicle."

If your car battery hasn't been changed in four or five years, Middleton advises to get it checked before weather like this occurs. He also said other beneficial preventive maintenance, especially for vehicles that are 4-5 years old, include filling washer fluids and having a full tank of gas.

Another concern is test driving on unsafe road conditions. Middleton said the dealership is more than willing to still do test drives, Middleton said, but since many people don't even feel comfortable doing it in the rain so it is a rare occurrence. However he said on days like Monday he has seen people come into the dealership to trade in their two-wheel drive vehicle for a four-wheel drive.

"We've sold many four-wheel drive trucks just because its snowed," he said.